Four Christmases: Get Holiday Haute with Reese Witherspoon’s Perfect LBD

By Erin Donnelly
November 24, 2008

Granny Helen would just LOVE it if you’d wear the turkey sweater she knitted you for Thanksgiving. But after spying Reese Witherspoon’s flawless black belted shirtdress in the new holiday flick Four Christmases, you’ve got your heart set on something a little less, um, festive. Sorry Granny—we’re going glam this holiday season in a Reese-inspired little black dress. (You might want to stop working on that reindeer one too, FYI.)

First, remember that you can’t just swoop into the family holiday celebrations wearing just any little black dress. You want to strike a careful balance between dressy and comfortable—something sophisticated, yet easy and versatile enough to make it through a day of feasting on turkey, being tackled by your nephews, and doing a mountain of dishes. Reese’s dress from the film is an ideal choice because its elegant, yet reigned in by sporty details like a collar and a belted waist.

Martin + Osa’s Refined Cotton Shirt Dress—made in comfy lightweight khaki—is a dead ringer for the one Reese wears, and, at $49.95, it’s easy on the wallet. Or revel in the sleek silhouette and crisp cotton feel of Banana Republic’s Cotton Shirtdress; it’s dressy, yet smart enough to wear to work. And if designer labels are your thing, check out Miss Sixty’s rendition, a street-smart cotton denim design with a sexy black belt.

Want to up the feminine factor? Try Delia’s sweet Alyssa Shirtdress (available in black or dark blue), which boasts pretty details like cap sleeves and ruffled trim, not to mention a light swiss-dot material. Ann Taylor’s Bubble Sleeve Shirtdress sports a fuller A-line shape and a fun sash at the waist.

Finally, make a big splash for very little buck in a long-sleeved shirtdress (available in black or floral print) from Old Navy—a total steal at $29.50. You’ll have just enough money left over to spend on some killer black heels and a black winter coat. And a Chi hair straightener—those stick-straight Reese Witherspoon locks take some work, after all.

Alyssa shirtdress ($44.50)

Swiss-dot cap-sleeved shirtdress with shirring and button detail. Tie-back waist. Fully lined. Cotton. Dark blue, black. 00-13/14. 38 1/2" long. Imported. Catalog and web exclusive.